### Sets a Standard I called to work, to break the news To break a heart or two I called you, in frenzied fit Just to tell the truth And lover you abided by the rules of engagement You laid yourself down into the flames for me I called my mother this morning Letting her know just what she meant to me I called the next door neighbor Just to tell them where to find the key And they would abide by my rules They laid themselves out for me, the fool I drove a hundred miles I walked the distances that no one ever wanted And I, all of the while, I thought of you All of the while I thought of you all I walked away a man half broken And honestly, now look in my eyes Emptiness sets the standard Or at least I believe that lie I called the minister today Left him a message while he ate Told him not to bother, just to pray But I didn't leave my name I left my family in memory I left them all a note to see Jester in a court of kings Testing, the water so deep So I'm standing here, your typical "gun to the head" Hoping that God won't call my bluff, and send me you So instead of causing all this commotion Why don't you, just show yourself and let's go home Emptiness sets the standard Emptiness sets the standard Or at least I believe that lie I called the minister today Left him a message while he ate Told him not to bother, just to pray ### Imaginations Run I'm filing back through nostalgia, pleasantly dredging the deep. Sip barley 'n hops of yester-year to quench this thirst in me. ...and here - I ponder... Catching subtle hints and gestures is an unfair advantage over the young, granted to us as we grow older but I surely wouldn't call it -- wisdom. (no) Now her actions don't match her words but neither do mine. And I feel the guilt when nothing happens...all the time (all the time) ...and nothing happens, all the time! And imaginations run. In silence I simply implode and quake beneath these ribs, I'll say, this fault line folly triggered by the things passed along the way. And the last thoughts to enter are always disappointments past, but step back now, sweet soul, I tell you the echoes too shall pass... And imaginations run. Imaginations run...wild. Imaginations run. Imaginations run, wild. ### Cannon Fodder I need a moment as your cannon fodder, my soul at peace, to embrace this honor, And we’d both be laughing if we both were laughing like you. Pause this movie It’s painful to watch as I fall into pieces Selfish in motive as soulless increases Devil inside as you course thru that life Even careless is careful when carving a knife A better life in a state of silence Mouth closed you enjoy this violence, But if you’d just say something You could save their souls tonight. I guess I'll leave my shadow on your wall here, It's all that's left from your atom bomb, dear, And I'd walk over a thousand bridges, if there were any you hadn't burned... Please pause this moment. But a better life is in a state of silence, Mouth closed you show defiance, but if you'd just said something, Could've saved their souls tonight. Cause it’s painful to watch as we get separated, when left to our vices that we've long evaded ...and we’d both be laughing, if we both were laughing like you. You could've saved these souls tonight. You could've saved my soul tonight. ### A Simple Change of Plans Sin... Coming in a one-size-fits-all fashion. Traveling at breakneck speeds. just to lose the race, from one decision. Scars... Visible or not they leave their stain. It can never be a victimless crime when you just won't, take the blame. Sadly it was all, more or less, on a whim... You won't understand the reasons for the passings, You'll blame yourself for all the wrongs you've ever done. Cause it would have been a simple change of plans, Or maybe easier for you simply just to turn around and run. ...run...a one size fits all fashion...run...run... Cause it would have been a simple change of plans, Or maybe easier for you simply just to turn around and run. Sadly, it was all more, or less, on a whim a one size fits all fashion ### Relabeled Oh darling, I put labels on everything, I write a title for what is inside, And on this label I wrote your name, sub-titled "the one who lies"... or is that me? or is that me? Now I'm promoted to General of the Tired Hearts Club, but it ain't that simple and I must confide; your a super nova floating close to the horizon, enough to collide... this time bomb ticking everything set, to explode, yet so far nothing... strange it never happens this slow, but I don't regret not one thing. you won't say the words and you won't sing... Sharpen your knives darling before you stick them in my back or his. Cause we're not ready for your dull, dull blade again, this is done, you're gone, no reason for me to want it back, yet here I write, and you know, I want it back. ...I want it back. Your folder's full of pages with all these sad sad words, they're so troubled and distorted, this is the boy you hurt. I am the boy you hurt. So sharpen your knives 'fore you stick them in my back or his, cause we're not ready for your dull, dull blade again... They know you by the bodies left within your wake; all dreadful disasters let's relabel for your sake... Let me let you in, on a secret I've been hiding for a long long time; a broken heart's a crime, and the punishment is life. the punishment is life. ...so let's re-label you, re-label me too...a fool... Sharpen your knives darling before you stick them in my back or his. Cause we're not ready for your dull, dull blade again, this is done, you're gone, no reason for me to want it back, yet here I write, and you know, I want it back. I want it back. and you know, I want it back. ...before you stick them in my back or his. Cause we're not ready for your dull, dull blade again, this is done, you're gone, no reason for me to want it back, yet here I write, and you know, I want it back. ### Your Killer's You It’s just a carry over from the last one. A picture perfect mirrored replication. Go ahead, you can ask all that you want of me. I’m just a portrait of this whole society. These sharper lives just lead a cut up cavalry. Knife wounds, sliced up, bleeding rivalries. Just once, would you please sing along with me. And just a chance, would you dance, would you die with me? For I promise that I’m not the only one. And I’m not singing just a sad, familiar song. A new verse, new chords, new everything. Shut your mouth, open your mind and live here with me. Be not afraid if you hold your breath tonight. Dive in the deep end and trust you’ll come out alright. It’s not a suicide if you keep your head up. Well, I know that I am not the only one. We’re singing more than this, more than just a lonely song. Though the chorus just may be familiar too; so don’t be surprised when you find, your killer’s you. Though the chorus just may be familiar too; so don’t be surprised when you find, your killer’s you. Though the chorus just may be familiar too; so don’t be surprised when you find, your killer’s you. Though the chorus just may be familiar too; so don’t be surprised when you find, your killer’s you. Though the chorus just may be familiar too; so don’t be surprised when you find, your killer’s you. Though the chorus just may be familiar too; so don’t be surprised when you find, your killer’s you. For I promise that I’m not the only one and I’m not singing just a sad, familiar song. A new verse, new everything. Shut your mouth, open your mind and live here with me. ### Juxtapose I leave it blank, not that I don't know, but because I cannot find the words. (no) And the only way, is to string together letters, and hope that they will soon be heard. Just like words we mean nothing when separated, and we are everything and more when we're combined. But my span too small or her breadth too wide, cause we juxtapose, juxtapose...she and I. Every laugh we shared still echoes in my mind, Here in silence I'm adrift without her smile. (oh) My pen writes lyrics, but they're incomplete, Hoping the right one brings her back to my side. In the quiet, each whisper plays our familiar tune, But each verse feels like it's missing a word or two... Just like words we mean nothing when separated, and we are everything and more when we're combined. But my span too small or her breadth too wide, cause we, we juxtapose...she and I. Just like words we mean nothing when separated, and we are everything and more when we're combined. But my span too small or her breadth too wide, cause we...we juxtapose...she and I. But my span too small or her breadth too wide, cause we juxtapose...she and I. ### The Moths Come Out All Stirred The lights are dimming thoughts come out blurred, Candles flicker, and the moths come out all stirred. A fresh group of narrators, dreaming up new words, Making sense of nonsense and put it in verse. Lights grow brighter, a soothing veneer, The dust has settled, and words became clear. This lesson is the hardest part of all of this. Learning to dance in the wake of silence. I'll be better when I'm older or at least I'll try, fixing any bridge I burned...before its time.... The lights are dimming thoughts come out blurred, Candles flicker, and the moths come out all stirred. This lesson is the hardest part of all of this. Learning to dance in the wake of silence. This lesson is the hardest part of all of this. Learning to dance in the wake of silence. This lesson is the hardest part of all of this. Learning to dance in the wake of silence. ...and the moths come out all stirred. ...and the moths come out all stirred. ### Untenable Everything, everyone, every breath, Every love, every hate, each death... those come and gone, every song. Each freedom, and every happenstance, Every kingdom, and every ignorance. All that's begun, under the sun. We're no opponent in this moment, please be amenable. In just a bit you’ll have missed, cause all of this, is untenable... Every dollar, every cent, Every dream sold, all time spent. Every whisper, each fist clenched, Raised voices, or those silenced... We're no opponent in this moment, please be amenable. In just a bit you’ll have missed, cause all of this, is untenable... Lost cause come inside. We're no opponent in this moment, please be amenable. In just a bit you’ll have missed, cause all of this, is untenable... Lost cause, come inside. ...all of this, is untenable... ...all of this, is untenable... Lost cause, come inside. Lost love, come inside. ...all of this, is untenable...